Active: Speed Camera in Mainz's vicinity - Unidentified Individuals Employing Mobile Phone Lights in Mainz Region
In a bid to improve road safety, mobile speed cameras specifically targeting mobile phone use while driving have been deployed in Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate. The first such camera in the state began operation around mid-April 2025, and within a short time, it recorded over 300 violations of drivers using mobile phones unlawfully.
The exact locations of these mobile speed cameras in Mainz are not specified, but it is known that this is the first mobile phone speed camera operating in Rhineland-Palatinate as of 2025. The camera system in use is the one from the Dutch police and has been tested in Trier and Mainz.
Regarding fines and penalties, using a mobile phone while driving without a hands-free system in Germany typically incurs fines and sometimes traffic points. Since this is an enforcement camera specifically for mobile phone violations, it is reasonable to infer similar penalties apply here.
While no publicized future expansion plans have been announced, the high number of violations detected shortly after the camera's introduction suggests the authorities may continue or possibly increase the use of such enforcement technology.
Drivers are warned about the dangers of using mobile devices while driving, specifically messaging and reading social media, as it can cause loss of vision and control. The police advise against pulling over to the side of the road or emergency bays to attend to communications while driving.
The camera system is currently deployed on the A60 highway between Ingelheim and Mainz, and the A61 highway from Gundheim towards Koblenz. Over 300 drivers have been caught using their mobile phones while driving in Trier since the camera system was installed in mid-April.
The police in Rhineland-Palatinate plan to equip all five police headquarters with this camera system. If other road users are endangered or an accident occurs due to mobile phone use, higher fines, points, or even a driving ban may be imposed.
The police advise against using a mobile device for calls, messages, or attending to communications while driving. However, the use of a hands-free device for calls is recommended. If you need to read new Instagram stories, for example, doing so for just one second at 150 km/h results in a driver having tunnel vision for 40 meters. Similarly, two seconds of messaging at 130 km/h makes a driver unable to see what's ahead for 70 meters.
In conclusion, mobile speed cameras are now active in Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate, targeting drivers who use their mobile phones illegally while driving. The police urge drivers to use hands-free devices for calls and avoid using mobile devices for messaging, reading social media, or attending to communications while driving to ensure road safety.
- The community policy in Rhineland-Palatinate, specific to mobile phone usage while driving, has been enforced through the deployment of mobile speed cameras, technology similar to that used by the Dutch police.
- The employment policy in Rhineland-Palatinate law enforcement now includes the operation of mobile phone speed cameras, with plans to equip all five police headquarters with this technology.
- In the realm of general-news, there has been a surge in the recording of drivers using mobile phones unlawfully, a trend attributed to the increased use of smartphones and the recent deployment of mobile speed cameras in Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate.
